America’s Greatest Air & Space Museum

October 7, 2023 10:15am

Mankind achieved powered flight on December 17, 1903 when the Wright Brothers successfully got airborne at Kitty Hawk on North Carolina's outer banks. Less than a quarter century later, Charles Lindbergh made his solo flight across the Atlantic. Twenty years after that, Chuck Yeager flew faster than the speed of sound. And on July 20, 1969, man walked on the Moon. From the sandy beach in North Carolina to the Lunar surface took less than a century. A lot less, actually; just 65 years, 7 months, and 3 days to be exact.

The history of that incredible accomplishment - plus what has happened since - is on display at the Smithsonian's National Air & Space Museum. When most people think of the Smithsonian's Air & Space Museum, they think of the one on the National Mall in Washington, DC. Well, that museum is great. But the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum also includes the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia about 20 miles west of our nation's capitol. And frankly, I think the Udvar-Hazy Center is the better of the two facilities.

On today's radio program, I visited that museum and spoke with historian Jeremy Kinney, the center's Associate Director for Research and Curatorial Affairs. Our conversation is now archived online as a podcast at www.TheMikeBatesShow.com/podcasts/231007